Mop connector



May 4, 1943. A. L. LOWE MOP CONNECTOR Filed Oct. 15, 1940 lNVENTORARTHUR L. LOWE ATTORNEY Patented May 4, 1943 UNITE STATES Mor CONNECTORArthur L. Lowe, Southport, Conn.

Application October 15, 1940, Serial No. 361,291

2 Claims. (Cl. 147) This invention relates to new and usefulimprovements in applicators and has particular relation to an improvedconnector for securing a mop to a handle.

An object of the invention is to provide a mop connector of simple andinexpensive construction which is preferably permanently secured to theframe of the mop whereby to form a unit therewith and which unit isadapted for ready application to and removal from a handle having a boltpassing through an end portion thereof for securing the unit thereto.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from a considerationof the following detailed description taken in connection with'theaccompanying drawing wherein a satisfactory embodiment of the inventionis shown. However, it is to be understood that the invention is notlimited to the details disclosed but includes all such variations andmodifications as fall within the spirit of the invention and the scopeof the appended claims.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational View showing a wax applicator having itshead or 'mop secured to its.

handle in accordance with the teaching of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a front elevational View on a larger scale showing the lowerportion of the applicator handle and showing a portion of the mop headincluding the present connector;

Fig. 3 is a vertical central sectional view through the lower end of thehandle and through the connector;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken through a wing portionof the connector;

Fig. 5 is an elevational View showing the end portions of the wire frameof the mop disposed in one of the elements of the connector;

Fig. 6 is an elevational view somewhat similar,

to Fig. 5 but showing the other element of the connector; and

7 is a top plan view of one of the elements of the connector.

Referring in detail to the drawing at H! is.

shown) .the stem 16 of which projects at the i tries lower end of thecontainer and has connected thereto one end portion I! of a rodoroperating means i8 extending along the handle and having at its upperend a trigger means l9 by which the rod may be moved longitudinally ofthe handle. The arrangement is such that on the trigger I9 being drawnupwardly the rod I8 is shifted in a similar manner and operates theabove mentioned valve means to open position to permit some of thecontents of container l3 to pass from the same to the floor, there to bespread by mop ll.

Mop Ii comprises a twisted Wire frame on or by an intermediate portionof which is held-the mop material 26 of yarn or the like. The endportions 2! of the frame are bent and carried back in substantiallyparallel relation with-the material 20 and then the free end portions ofthe frame are bent as at 22 to provide outwardly extending substantiallyparallel free end portions 23. Such end portions and the portions ofarms .lower endof which slightly projects a lip 24.

At each side of their intermediate depressions 23a the elements areprovided with substantially L-shaped depressions comprisingsubstantially aligned arms 25 and parallel arms 26. p v allel arms 26stop short of the upper ends of the The par.-

elements but enter into the-aligned arms and the latter open throughtheouter edges of the elements and into the depressions 23a thereof.

It is noted that the'substantially L-shaped depressions are in wing-likeportions of the elements and sincethese depressions-are formed bypressing outwardly portions of theelements in a manner to form ribs ontheir outer sides the forming of the depressions serves to strengthonthe elements against any flexing or bending.

In this connection attention is particularly directed to the fact thatthe aligned arms 25 of the L-shaped depressions openinginto'theintermediate depressions 23a result in the formation of outerbeads merging with the outer sides of the said depressions 23a wherebythe Wing-like portions of the elements are strengthenedagainst bendingabout their lines of connection with the said intermediatedepressedportions.

In its wing-like portions at the -outer sides of the parallel portions26 of the L-shaped depressions each element is provided with openings 21and 28 of which the former is clean out while the latter is formed bypressing out the metal to provide a hollow rivet-like structure 29.Slots 3!] open through the upper ends of the intermediate portions ofthe elements and each such element at the sides of the slots and towardthe upper or open ends of the latter is provided with outwardly pressedprojections 3| the purpose of which will appear.

Elements A and B are assembled on the free end portions of the wireframe of the mop H in a permanent manner to form a unit with such mopand to accomplish this the end portions of the mop frame are disposed inthe L-shaped depressions 25-26 of one element, as element A in thedrawing (see Fig. 5). Thereafter element B is disposed over the partsarranged with the various depressions of one element aligning with thoseof the other element and with the eyeletlike portions 23 of each elementextending through the opening 2! in the wing-like portion of the otherelement. Through the use of suitable clamping jaws the elements areforced tight against one another (a pilot plug being disposed indepressions 23a to prevent collapse thereof) and the free ends of theeyelets 29 are clinched tightly and permanently securing the elementstogether on the ends of the mop frame. The elements may be secured.together by means other than the eyelets 29. For example, separaterivets or bolts may be used or the elements may be spot welded togetheror the like.

It is noted that the depressions receiving the end portions of the mopframe constitute transversely circular sockets snugly receiving I suchframe portions. It will be clear that the intermediate depressions 23aresult in a material stiffening of the elements A and B. The outer beadsresulting from the formation of such depressions stiffen the elements atthe inner sides of the parallel arm portion 25 and the rivettingoperation at 32 stiflens the wing-like portions of the connector at theouter sides of said portions 26 whereby the end portions of the mopframe are securely and rigidly held in the connector.

Obviously in the assembled connector the intermediate depressions 23atogether define a socket. Such socket is for the reception of the lowerreduced diameter end portion of the handle l0. Through such end portionof the handle passes a bolt 33 having a head 34 and a square shankportion 35 immediately inwardly of said head. At its other end the boltis threaded and carries a wing nut 36 which may be threaded along thebolt but may not be removed therefrom as the outer threaded end of thebolt is spun over at 31 to destroy some of the threads and preventremoval of the nut from the bolt.

While the nut is loose on the bolt the handle end is slipped into itssocket in the connector [2- with the bolt extending through the lots3!]. Thereafter as the nut 35 is tightened the square port-ion of thebolt shank is drawn into the wooden handle and prevents turning of thebolt in the handle. As the nut is further tightened the nut and the bolthead clamp against the connector rigidly securing the mop head to thehandle, aligning the mop with the container I3 and thereafter preventingturning of the mop from such aligned relation yet permitting of easyremoval of the mop from the handle Without removing the bolt from thelatter. Should the nut 36 not be fully tightened or should it casuallybecome somewhat loose the mop head will not casually separate from thehandle. This is true since the projections 3| are so arranged as underthe mentioned circumstances to engage the bolt head 34 and the nut 36and stop movement of the mop from the handle.

When the mop material is worn and the mop is to be replaced or when suchmaterial is worn on but one side and the mop is to be reversed on thehandle the nut 36 is materially loosened and the mop head may be easilyremoved. Since the bolt 33 extends in a plane passing through thecontainer and the connector is provided with the slots 30 the mop willalways be applied to the handle in the proper relation to the container.After the mop in a reversed position or a new mop is applied to thehandle the nut 36 is tightened and the applicator is ready for use.

Attention is directed to the fact that my connector comprises but twoidentical parts. As the bolt remains in the handle at all times the mophead may be easily and quickly applied to and removed from the handle.The connector while of sheet metal is so strengthened by the beadsresulting from the formation of the various depressions that a rigidstructure is provided and there is no wobbling of the mop with respectto the handle in any such manner as to give the feeling that the deviceis about to fall apart. The lips 24 in the assembled connector formstops to limit the extent to which the handle may be inserted into itssocket and in addition have the important function of materiallystiffening the elements A and B.

Having thus set forth the nature of my invention, what I claim is:

l. A connector for supporting a mop or the like on the end of a handle,said connector comprising a pair of identical sheet metal elements eachhaving a central substantially semi-tubular depression, said elementsarranged one against the other with said depressions registering andtogether defining a socket for the reception of the handle end,wing-like portions extending laterally from each side of said centralportions and each having depressions and of which the open sides of thedepressions of one element register with those of the other providingsockets at the sides of the first named socket for the reception of thebent ends of a mop frame, said sockets thus formed in said wing-likeportions being substantially L-shaped and extending inwardly from theouter edges of said portions adjacent their lower ends and thenextending at the outer sides of but substantially parallel with thehandle receiving socket, a rivet integral with one wing portion of eachelement and passing through the other wing portion of the other elementand securing said portions of the elements together rigidly andpermanently in the angle between the outer sides of said L-shapedsockets, and said depressions forming the portions of said L- shapedsockets which extend inwardly from the outer side edges of saidwing-like portions continued inwardly to the first mentioned centraldepressions whereby to stiffen such wing-like portions of the clip intheir connections with the depressed central portions.

2. A connector for supporting a mop or the like on the end of a handle,said connector comprising a pair of identical sheet metal elements eachhaving a central substantially semi-tubular depression, said elementsarranged one against the other with said depressions registering andtogether defining a socket for the reception of the handle end,wing-like portions extending laterally from each side of each of saidcentral portions and each having depressions and of which the open sidesof the depressions of one element register with those of the otherproviding sockets at the sides of the first named socket for thereception of the bent ends of a mop frame, said sockets thus formed. insaid wing-like portions being substantially L-shaped and extendinginwardly from the outer edges of said portions adjacent their lower endsand then extending at the outer sides of but substantially parallel withthe handle receiving socket, a rivet integral with one wing portion ofeach element and passing through the other wing portion of the otherelement and securing said portions of the elements together rigidly andpermanently in the angle between the outer sides of said L-shapedsockets, said depressions forming the portions of said L- shaped socketswhich extending inwardly from the outer side edges of said wing-likeportions continued inwardly to the first mentioned central depressionswhereby to stifien such wing-like portions of the clip in theirconnections with the depressed central portions, and said portions ofthe wing depressions extending substantially parallel with the handlesocket stopping short of the upper edges of said wing-like portionswhereby said L-shaped sockets are closed at their upper ends to encloseand conceal the free ends of any mop frame.

ARTHUR L. LOWE.

